Tag Archives: 25 Secrets of the chronically Ill patients

25 Secrets of People With Chronic Illnesses
Elisabeth Brentano By Elisabeth Brentano Feb 11, 2016
This article discusses aGeneral topic in our community

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Nearly 133 million Americans have some sort of chronic illness, and that number is expected to reach 157 million by 2020, according to data on the Invisible Illness Week website.

From exhaustion to migraines to fatigue, many chronic illness symptoms aren’t visible to the naked eye, which makes them even more difficult to diagnose — and understand.

With a growing number of people affected by chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, arthritis, Lyme disease, Crohn’s disease and diabetes and more, it’s important to both raise awareness and let others know how to respond to the needs of individuals living with these conditions.

So we asked readers in our Facebook community what truths about chronic illness they wish others understood. Here’s what they had to say:

1. “Some days you can function, some you can’t.” —Amber Wandmaker

Woman on beach

2. “I’m not lazy. I’m in pain, exhausted and quite possibly depressed because I feel useless and cannot make others understand what I go through on a daily basis.” —Jodie Farber Brubacher

10. “Chronic illness often comes in multiple versions; treating one can mean making another one worse.” —Zoann Murphy

11. “I can’t remember what ‘well’ feels like.” —Sandra Williams

12. “Good can change to bad in a matter of minutes. There are good days and bad days, but there are also good hours and bad hours, good minutes and bad minutes. Chronic illness does not see or understand time.” —Deanna Guarino-Embry

Clock on wall

13. “There’s no such thing as ‘too young;’ we can’t just show out bodies ID and tell the illness to come back in 10-20 years!” —Jen Andrew

15. “We shouldn’t be treated like drug addicts or hypochondriacs and denied the care we truly need.” —Amy Brandborg

16. “I live a double life. What you see when I am at work: someone who is well put together, always dependable, smiling, will always tell you she is doing fine. My reality: I’m a mess, in so much pain, my smiles are forced, sometimes I have to find a quiet place to cry. But it’s much easier for me to fake it because coworkers don’t want to hear my truth day after day.” —Amber Weller

Woman in front of mirror

17. “A ‘good attitude’ doesn’t take away pain or improve mobility. I am still human and I will have days when I just can’t drum up that ‘good attitude.’” —Vicki Gomes Petilli

Woman standing in field barefoot

18. “I didn’t do this to myself. I didn’t not pray hard enough or believe hard enough. I didn’t not eat well enough or not exercise enough.” —Barb Silvestro

19. “It hurts to be forgotten because we have said no to so many events, parties, family gatherings, shopping trips, etc. I want them to still ask just so I know they are still thinking of me.” —Victoria Sinclair

Upset woman with grey hair

20. “There is no magic cure. I don’t want to be sick, but this is my reality. I can’t wish it away or cleanse it away or take supplements because your sister’s boyfriend’s mother did.” —Christina Marroquin-Mauricio

Spoon with heart in it

21. “People don’t choose to feel horrible every day and lose the person they used to be.” –Caitlin Hoechst

22. “What I can do one day I might not be able to do the next.” —Becky Rider

23. “I’m not making it up. If I wanted to fake an illness, I would choose something that people would believe!” —Faith Merryn

Upset man

24. “My downtime doesn’t mean I’m depressed or isolating. It’s a time for me to heal and recharge.” —Kate Wilhelmi

25. “My illness does not define me, my dreams or who I am!” —Judy Fox Berryan

Woman on the beach

What’s one truth about chronic illness you wish others understood? Let us know in the comments below. And be sure to visit our new Facebook page, Chronic Illness on The Mighty.